The Big Question
In the sports world, there is one question that seems to always float around and can never go away. Who is the GOAT? I guarantee that any sports fan has had someone come up to them and ask, “Who do you think the greatest player of all time is in said sport.” Whether it be in the NFL, NHL, MLB, or any other sports league, everyone has had this question come up at least once in their lives and along with that question, everyone has an opinion on who they think it is. But throughout all of the different sports leagues, the NBA always seems to be the most notorious for having the “GOAT” debate. Whether you are a fan of basketball or not, everyone knows someone who has an opinion that they will fight their lives for who they think the GOAT is in the NBA.
Now with every GOAT debate, people need to have support to back up their claim and that’s where the argument gets so heated. You go on ESPN, and you will see grown men getting paid millions of dollars just to fight and argue about who is better, Lebron or Jordan. Most of the time, people’s arguments go like this. If they think Jordan is better, they say something along the lines of “6-0 in the finals.” If someone thinks Lebron is better, their argument tends to go something like this, “Jordan’s competition was nowhere near Lebron’s and Lebron has been one of the best players in the league for almost 20 years straight.” Most people never tend to actually give good context and relativity to their points. They use basic points and arguments to a topic that goes way further then being 6-0 in the finals.
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Background
For my list, I will be mentioning the 10 Greatest Players of All Time. I will be ranking them on their career accomplishments, impact on the NBA and basketball as a whole, and all of their advanced statistics and metrics in their games. My main focus will be looking at statistics of these players, but I won’t disregard their accomplishments as well. Some of the stats I will use to rank these players include things like their career averages like points rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. I’ll also use metrics like PER, True Shooting PCT, Win Shares Per 48 as well as Offensive and Defensive Win Shares, O and D Box Plus/Minus, Value Over Replacement, and others as well. The other thing we have to look at is the context and relativity of when these players had these statistics.
The other thing we have to look at is the context and relativity of when these players had these statistics. For example, Wilt averaged 50 and 20 a game in the 60’s is incredible, the competition he was going against at the time is nowhere near as talented as the competition in the league today or even in the 90’s. However, we can’t just completely deny the fact that he was putting up those numbers and we have never seen someone dominate like that since he was in the league. Lastly, I will look at the players overall accolades and rank the players based off of the data, stats and accolades put all together from each individual player. I put down about 50 players that could potentially top 20 players of all time. For the categories, I ranked all the players from 1-20 based on looking at each stats top 250 players. I only took a player's best single score in a single category. So, if a player had 5 of the most points in a game scored, I only credited their highest score. Lastly, when ranking the players from 1-20, I am only using players from the pool that I created. So, if a player not in the 50 players I had listed had the 2nd highest Points per game average, I did not include them into the ranking system. It may sound a little confusing, but you’ll understand shortly.
With that being said, I’ll jump right into it. I’m only going to go through the top 10 players in detail and then at the end I will mention the other 11-20 players each briefly.
10. Shaquille O'Neal
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If this list was just going off of who was the most dominant player of all time, Shaq could have easily been in the top 3 or even 1. Shaq was unstoppable and ran through the league racking up numbers after numbers. From the time he entered the league to the end of his Heat tenure, no one was able to stop him at all. Even if he couldn’t shoot 10 feet outside the rim, he still was one of the best scorers of all time and we may never see someone dominate the league again like how Shaq did.
9. Steph Curry
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Just off of numbers alone, Curry may not seem the most impressive, but there's no doubt he is one of the Greatest of All Time. Offensively he is one of the top players all time and he single handedly has changed the way basketball is played now with his shooting. He is arguably the most impactful player in the history of the NBA. The only thing that is keeping him down on the list is his playoff performance. He does have 4 rings, but only has 1 Finals MVP to show for them. His offensive stats are good at certain points, but lackluster compared to his regular season stats. Looking past that though, Curry is without a doubt one of the greats. Before his 4th ring and Finals MVP, he probably would’ve been ranked somewhere in the 15-20 range, but him finally getting his Finals MVP and now 4th ring helped boost his resume.
8. Tim Duncan
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Duncan may not have been the most influential talent of all time, but he is definitely one of the greatest players we have ever seen. Compared to most of the other players, "The Big Fundamental" might be lower on the list for offensive performance but is arguably the best defender of all time. His legacy lead to 5 rings and 3 Finals MVPs and cemented himself as the face of the San Antonio Spurs forever. The only thing his resume was missing was a Defensive Player of the Year which is crazy to think that a player like Duncan never received one.
7. Larry Bird
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Bird is a player that was very much hindered by his health. For his 13-year career, he was always a top 5 player in the league without a doubt. Since his career was cut short, he does not have the career records like some other greats have, but what he did in his career span was incredible. His postseason performances are what really solidified his legacy with winning his first Finals in his second season in the league and leading his team to 2 others in the 80’s. Bird and Magic helped revive basketball and the NBA and became the faces of the league for the entire 80s.
6. Wilt Chamberlain
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Wilt was a player that was way beyond his time of playing, arguably being the most dominant player all time relative to their competition. Wilt was one of the first true generational talents the league has ever seen and really paved the way for the big man to be the focal point of every NBA team all the way up till the 90’s. The only reason why Wilt is not ranked higher is the competition he played against. The average player back in the 60’s has about the same skill set of a super talented middle schooler nowadays. He was one of the only players over 7 feet in the league which just meant no one else was really close to stopping him except one player.
5. Bill Russell
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Russell is in the same situation as Wilt where they both could have had a ton more accolades and stats to show their greatness, but don’t have that luxury because they played before they started recording those stats. Russell barely makes it over Wilt because of his defensive impact and his overall success in his career winning 11 championships in his 13 year career which is insane to think about. But just like Wilt, he also has the fact that his competition was very lackluster. No discredit to his success, but when Russell played, there were only about 8 teams in the entire league during his era. Russell may not have been the most dominant offensive player, but made up 10 fold for his defensive presence.
4. Magic Johnson
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Magic is the true point guard. He is the blueprint to the ideal point guard to run your team through. Magic was the first real positionless player as he was a 6’8 guard running the offense. He along with Bird, ran the league in the 90’s and are two of the most impactful players to the game. Magic was never a pure talent scorer like most point guards are, but he is one of it not the best playmaker of all time. Magic will forever be the true “Point God”.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Kareem did many things that people thought were impossible. He was one of the most highly anticipated prospects to come into the NBA and had to live up to the great big men like Wilt and Russell that came before him, and he did not disappoint and even surpassed them. His unstoppable hook shot helped lead him to the number 1 spot for career points and most people thought his record would be impossible to break. He dominated the league from when he first came in until he retired and showed his longevity and talent for years.
2. LeBron James
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Lebron truly is a unicorn. When it comes to Lebron’s game, there really aren't any flaws to it. Early in his career, he was a lackluster shooter but transformed into one of the best all time. And this a trend throughout all of his game, Lebron isn’t the best at any one thing. He’s not the best passer, he’s not the best finisher, he’s not the best shooter, he’s not the best defender, but what sets him apart is that he is one of the best at everything. He has taken horrible rosters year after year to the finals and had to have a super team put together just to beat him. He has dominated the NBA longer than I have been alive and continues to be one of the best players in the league at almost 40 years old. His longevity is something we will never see again, and if he can keep this production up for 1 maybe 2 more years, it’s going to be really hard to say he’s not the undisputed GOAT, but for right now he is just barely behind.
1. Michael Jordan
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Jordan is without a doubt the most influential player to ever play basketball and he revolutionized the game and helped build up the sport of basketball to what it is today. From the time he stepped into the league until he retired in 2003, Jordan legitimately had grown men afraid to play him. You don’t get the nickname “Black Jesus” for no reason. He’s the best playoff performer of all time and has had the greatest peak performance out of any other player in history. MJ, in his second season, only played 17 games and still was voted to be a starter on the all-star team. Michael Jordan still holds the crown of the NBA GOAT, but the gap between him and LeBron is closer that it has ever been.
Top 11-20
I wanted to briefly mention some of the other players that had just missed out the top 10 but are still in the top 20.
11. Kobe Bryant.
The first player to just make the cut. Kobe has 5 rings and is one of the best 2-way players of all time. Kobe is no doubt one of the most influential players of all-time. If not for Curry's 4th ring and Finals MVP moving him up the ranks, he would be in the top 10.
12. Hakeem Olajuwon.
Another arguable best defender of all time. Hakeem has 2 of the most impressive Finals wins in 1994 and 1995 with Hakeem leading the team. Has 2 Defensive Player of the Year Award's, tied for most on the list, and was a master of the Post.
13. Kevin Durant.
One of the best scorers and most unstoppable players of all-time when he is feeling it. He's starting to approach the end of his career, and still has yet to win that "real" Finals series most fans are waiting for him to win. With the Suns going all in this season for him and Booker, this might be one of his last chances to get another ring and climb the ranks.
14. Oscar Robertson.
First player ever to average a triple-double for a season and was one of the first all around players to come into the league. His accolades bring him down, but his stats are what make him one of the all-time greats. Even though he played in a very different era, he still was doing unprecedented things for his time.
15. David Robinson.
A dominant player and one of the most underrated players of all-time. Robinson was both a huge offensive and defensive presence as he won 1 regular season MVP and 1 Defensive Player of the Year. He also tallied up 2 rings towards the end of his career, but with Duncan being the leader of the Spurs. His rings boosted his rankings, but even without them he still deserves a spot with some of the greats.
16. Karl Malone.
Postseason struggles are what hinders Malones career. He was an amazing regular season player winning 2 MVPs and being named to 14 All NBA teams. He even has the 3rd most career regular season points all-time and is in the top for blocks and rebounds, but his playoff legacy has always haunted him. He goes down in a large group of all-time greats to never win a championship.
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Some people might be shocked Giannis is ranked this high, but when you dive into what he has accomplished, you really see how great he is. 1 Ring, 1 Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, 2 MVPs, and he still is just getting into his prime. He doesn't have all the records like some other greats, but he has more than enough time to keep moving up the ranks and potentially be in the question for best power forward of all time.
18. Charles Barkley
Similar to Karl Malone, Barkley is another all-time great to never win a championship. Barkley still won an MVP and is known for his incredible post scoring and rebounding. Being only 6'6 Barkley was one of the shortest power forwards in the league, but he was one of the strongest players as well. Barkley was known as the "Round Mound of Rebound" for his insane skills. He literally changed the NBA because of his dominance by forcing the 5-Second Rule to be brought into the league.
19. Jerry West
"The Logo" was never the best regular season player, but he does hold many playoff records. For his career, he won 1 ring with a Finals MVP to go with it, as well as having the 2nd highest single postseason PPG average and the 4th highest PPG average for a postseason career. West is not the most decorated player of all-time, but he was a certified bucket and is the literal face of the NBA.
20. Dirk Nowitzki
Sneaking into the last spot for the top 20 is the best bigman shooter of all time. Dirk may not be the greatest player of all-time, but he is one of the most iconic. He put a small market with the Maverik's on the map and helped build them into one of the most successful franchises. Dirk has one championship being his iconic 2011 playoff's and 1 Finals MVP along with a regular season MVP to go with it. Dirk doesn't have the stats, but he is the ideal model for bigmen nowadays.
11. Kobe Bryant.
The first player to just make the cut. Kobe has 5 rings and is one of the best 2-way players of all time. Kobe is no doubt one of the most influential players of all-time. If not for Curry's 4th ring and Finals MVP moving him up the ranks, he would be in the top 10.
12. Hakeem Olajuwon.
Another arguable best defender of all time. Hakeem has 2 of the most impressive Finals wins in 1994 and 1995 with Hakeem leading the team. Has 2 Defensive Player of the Year Award's, tied for most on the list, and was a master of the Post.
13. Kevin Durant.
One of the best scorers and most unstoppable players of all-time when he is feeling it. He's starting to approach the end of his career, and still has yet to win that "real" Finals series most fans are waiting for him to win. With the Suns going all in this season for him and Booker, this might be one of his last chances to get another ring and climb the ranks.
14. Oscar Robertson.
First player ever to average a triple-double for a season and was one of the first all around players to come into the league. His accolades bring him down, but his stats are what make him one of the all-time greats. Even though he played in a very different era, he still was doing unprecedented things for his time.
15. David Robinson.
A dominant player and one of the most underrated players of all-time. Robinson was both a huge offensive and defensive presence as he won 1 regular season MVP and 1 Defensive Player of the Year. He also tallied up 2 rings towards the end of his career, but with Duncan being the leader of the Spurs. His rings boosted his rankings, but even without them he still deserves a spot with some of the greats.
16. Karl Malone.
Postseason struggles are what hinders Malones career. He was an amazing regular season player winning 2 MVPs and being named to 14 All NBA teams. He even has the 3rd most career regular season points all-time and is in the top for blocks and rebounds, but his playoff legacy has always haunted him. He goes down in a large group of all-time greats to never win a championship.
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Some people might be shocked Giannis is ranked this high, but when you dive into what he has accomplished, you really see how great he is. 1 Ring, 1 Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, 2 MVPs, and he still is just getting into his prime. He doesn't have all the records like some other greats, but he has more than enough time to keep moving up the ranks and potentially be in the question for best power forward of all time.
18. Charles Barkley
Similar to Karl Malone, Barkley is another all-time great to never win a championship. Barkley still won an MVP and is known for his incredible post scoring and rebounding. Being only 6'6 Barkley was one of the shortest power forwards in the league, but he was one of the strongest players as well. Barkley was known as the "Round Mound of Rebound" for his insane skills. He literally changed the NBA because of his dominance by forcing the 5-Second Rule to be brought into the league.
19. Jerry West
"The Logo" was never the best regular season player, but he does hold many playoff records. For his career, he won 1 ring with a Finals MVP to go with it, as well as having the 2nd highest single postseason PPG average and the 4th highest PPG average for a postseason career. West is not the most decorated player of all-time, but he was a certified bucket and is the literal face of the NBA.
20. Dirk Nowitzki
Sneaking into the last spot for the top 20 is the best bigman shooter of all time. Dirk may not be the greatest player of all-time, but he is one of the most iconic. He put a small market with the Maverik's on the map and helped build them into one of the most successful franchises. Dirk has one championship being his iconic 2011 playoff's and 1 Finals MVP along with a regular season MVP to go with it. Dirk doesn't have the stats, but he is the ideal model for bigmen nowadays.
Final Thoughts
Now looking back on the list, is it a perfect list? No, it is not. There really isn’t a definitive answer of a perfect list. We can have numbers and other metrics to measure each player's performance and compare them side by side, but that still not be the true answer on comparing which player is Greater. You can honestly make a case for any of the top 11-20 to be somewhere in the top 10. Between the 7th rank to 15th rank, I honestly believe you could switch up the orders between those guys any way possible. The best part about the Greatest Players of All-time list is that it is very subjective. My list here is 90% off of their statistics and accolades, and a little on their impact. Numbers and stats don’t truly show how great a player is, but it can give us some details about a player's greatness.
Links
Book1 Backup.xlsx
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